Did my Apistogramma Cacatuodies breed?

Hi all, i am new to apisto.
Bought a new pair of Apistogramma Cacatuodies orange 5 days ago and add into my community tank.
During feeding this morning, i realised the female didn't appear which is weird, usually she will be "greeting" me when i feed. The male did come out and eat like normal, so i try to figure where she was.
To my excitement, i saw her coming out from a "cave" a while and went back in as soon. She is guarding the area for the whole day and never wander far, She is in yellow colour and had black marking on her stomach. Even when the male come near the entrance, she will peck him away. No fish and amano shrimp are allowed in that area. Can i presume they did breed?
If they did, am i allow to do water change? Cos tomorrow will be my WC day. hahaha.
What are the things i should or should not do?
Thanks for any advice~~

 

Hi LordGrim,
A yellow female is a definite sign of being ready to start thinking of breeding. Guarding a cave is another sign . However actually laying eggs is another thing. And unfortunately the male has to learn to do his thing at the right time as well. As you write she is guarding the cave when he comes close so they both have to learn his part of the job.
In short the only way I know to be certain that there are eggs is to flip the cave up and have a quick look with a torch/ flashlight . My female still goes back to the eggs after I turn the cave unpside down to look. I can’t say is that is always the case but in auctions I have seen coconut caves etc with Perspex floors for this very job.
When the fry first hatch they are the size of a grain of sand with a tail. They really only eat live foods and baby brine is to big . Infusorea or vinegar eels are your best bet. Moss in an established tank will have infusorea ( green water ) on it. To raise the fry you might need to culture infusorea and or vinegar eels.
Again the parents my need to learn not to eat the fry. Removing the fry is an option. The other fish will eat them given 5 seconds.
Now the really good news . Should you not want to breed them perhaps it’s not good news because of the disturbance to the rest of the fish?
A breeding pair of mine has had eggs every 3 or 4 weeks 4 months in a row despite me removing the male once. Putting them both in a different tank. Once And stealing their cave a couple of times.
I am learning to raise their fry as I write. 30 eggs seems to be what my female lays.

I continue water changes regardless.

 

So i went ahead and check the cave, theres no eggs
But the female went back after i place the cave. I also notice the female came out to "find" the male, trying to lead him into the cave but sadly the male did not enter after the female did.
Hopefully i might see some actions soon

 

A link that might interest you from a local club member . Hey even if you have done this before we can all learn something new?

 

Is the female turning sideways to the male flashing her belly at him? If they breed you may never see it, once the male figures it out it only takes a couple of seconds for it to happen.
I dont look in the cave for eggs, it may stress them and they may eat the eggs, especially if there young and it's there first time.
When my apisto's do lay you may not see the female for 7-10 days, she won't bring them out till there yolk sack is absorbed. Once she brings them out you need to get your food sorse going, I only use live BBS, and they are plenty small enough for them to eat. Do you have any food for the fry? Do you know how to hatch BBS, if not it's very easy.

 

7-10 days for cacs ? , and you got them to eat very newly hatched brine shrimp. That’s good news?

 

Only once she brought them out of the cave do I start feeding, they still have a little bit yoke but I start feeding from the first day I see them and yes they eat live BBS from day one of her bringing them out.

 

Ya the female did turn her belly to face the male. The male just didn't seem interested and swam away. lol
Anyway today the female isn't in deep yellow and was greeting me when i feed. Guess her feeling die down. hahaha. I guess it isn't the right moment for the male. Hopefully in a few days he will be up for it
Ya i am breeding my own BBS now since i am feeding them to the angels, discus and guppies fries.

 

Point of interest. Of all the options available to my apistogramma species they all seem more interested in laying in 8 inch square pleco caves. All fish go in and out of coconut huts terracotta pots etc but it’s the pleco caves that get the eggs.

Give them time , you have some good signs.
The female will eat bb ,most likely?

 

I had the same thing happen with my cacatuoides this week! The female came out of the cave two days ago, but I haven't seen any fry.